Cost-cutting measures in nursing homes, particularly food budgets, have been a concerning underlying issue in the industry, with more than a quarter of facilities in the country spending under $10 per day on food per resident. An investigative report by NJ Advance Media, in collaboration with Rutgers University and data experts at SNFdata Resources of […]
CMS
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has yet to address a recommendation made by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to identify additional enforcement actions for VA nursing homes, and to ensure such facilities comply with quality standards. The recommendation was made as part of a November 2022 report to help the VA oversee these […]
‘Airtight Documentation’ Matters: Inside Upcoming Nursing Home Survey Changes Taking Effect April 28
Changes to nursing home survey protocols — set to take effect April 28 — are putting a sharper focus on resident rights, documentation practices, and medication oversight. The revisions demand airtight documentation, particularly around discharge, behavioral health interventions and psychotropic drug use. Of the ten area changes due to take place, providers should pay the […]
A leaked budget document from the White House shows nursing home-related changes, notably potential elimination of health care workforce programs focused on geriatrics and other aging services, and a prioritization of survey and certification funding. The “pre-decisional” document titled, “The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 2026 Discretionary Budget Passback,” released by Inside Medicine, […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is once again delaying the deadline to file revalidation paperwork, moving it from May 1 to August 1. It’s a welcome relief for operators given that a vast majority of nursing homes haven’t completed the burdensome paperwork. Martin Allen, senior vice president of reimbursement policy at the […]
Abrupt termination notices related to Medicaid and Medicare certification for nursing homes on the Special Focus Facilities (SFF) list have picked up dramatically as of late February, often occurring without warning or giving facilities the chance to demonstrate improvement. As a result of these abrupt terminations, nursing homes on the list have closed, including 143-bed […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule on Friday outlining Medicare payment policy and rate updates for skilled nursing facilities under the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for fiscal year 2026, as part of its annual update requirements. For fiscal 2026, CMS plans to increase SNF PPS […]
After a federal judge in Texas vacated the nursing home staffing rule on Monday, operators are rejoicing, though some legal experts in the sector suggest the fight may not be over just yet. “This is a really strong decision on both prongs of the staffing mandate. It hits all of the relevant points as to […]
A federal judge for the U.S. District Court of Northern Texas on Monday threw out the federal nursing home staffing mandate, while just Thursday the Trump administration defended the staffing rule in a brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for Northern […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule Friday to modernize and improve several Medicare programs, including Medicare Advantage (MA), but it does not include new restrictions on MA plans’ use of artificial intelligence. The rule for contract year 2026, effective June 3, introduces changes to prescription drug coverage, the Medicare […]
Nursing home surveys – already an area of trouble given chronic underfunding – are set to fall into deeper turmoil amid massive workforce cuts and restructuring planned at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, former chief of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), expressed skepticism that the Trump administration’s […]
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) restructuring plans announced Thursday could impact several departments serving the nursing home sector, leaving operators on edge. The department plans to cut around 10,000 full-time employees, including 300 at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), in the latest round of cuts. Combined with HHS’ previous […]
A bill to reform prior authorization requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) – a massive burden that nursing home operators have been trying to change for some time – was reintroduced on Capitol Hill Thursday. Nursing homes have long argued that this aspect of MA needs to be right-sized through legislation. The Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays […]
Dr. Mehmet Oz vowed to reduce the bureaucratic footprint of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) if confirmed to lead the federal agency. He also acknowledged problems with Medicare Advantage plans and criticized the preauthorization process and overbilling by insurers. During his appearance before the Senate Committee on Finance Friday, Oz seemed to […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed nursing home survey changes for another month, with implementation now to begin April 28 rather than March 24. Associations and providers alike are glad they’re being given more time to prepare, educate and test procedures. CMS said the delay “allows ample time” for both surveyors […]
Transitions in nursing home care will be heavily impacted by upcoming surveyor guidance, but operators can prepare by being realistic about admissions, while also cleaning up any gaps in the discharge process. At the same time, robust documentation around psychotropic medications will be a boon for operators facing updated guidance. Much of the surveyor guidance […]
Staffing and certain compliance issues related to updated survey guidance coming in late March, particularly those that relate to patient discharges as well as use of psychotropic medications, are top of mind for nursing home clinical leaders in 2025. Panelists at Skilled Nursing News’ annual CLINICAL conference, which took place early this week in Fort […]
Nursing home leaders are hoping that the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) new chief, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was sworn in on Thursday, will commit to protecting Medicare and Medicaid and undoing the federal staffing mandate. Republican lawmakers are pushing for potential Medicaid cuts in their spending bill due to be finalized […]
Just days ago officials with the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were granted access to agency systems and technology at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), but it’s unclear how the department plans to use such findings, or what sort of impact it would have on nursing homes. Nursing home associations […]
Staffing constraints are the single greatest challenge to maintaining clinical excellence in 2025, followed by insufficient reimbursement, and then rising operational costs and regulatory burdens. Meanwhile, operators are split on building new specialty clinical services. Workforce challenges are overwhelmingly top of mind for operators, with 45.5% saying these are hindering quality care, according to a […]
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